As demonstrated by the countless cranes towering over our skyline, Nashville is a city of transformation. Charlotte Avenue is just one of many sites of major metamorphosis the city has witnessed in recent years. About a decade ago, new businesses, hip breweries, and locally owned shops began popping up in spurts along West Nashville’s main thoroughfare.
Tucked away with West End to the east, The Nations to the north, and Sylvan Park to the southeast, you’ll find the charming area recently dubbed Sylvan Heights. This square-shaped pocket of town, brimming with buzzy dining destinations, local watering holes, and new builds, is small but mighty. Take a tour with us!
Where to Eat, Shop, and Sweat in Sylvan Heights
Straddling the border of Sylvan Park and Sylvan Heights, you’ll find the aptly named Sylvan Supply offering 162,000 square feet of retail, dining, and creative office spaces. A prime example of the old-meets-new approach that reverberates throughout the city, this former industrial mill has been reimagined into a bright, modern home for Nashville’s savviest creators and innovators.
Whether you’re meeting a friend for lunch or planning a date night, there are many restaurants to choose from, including Radish Kitchen, a sunny, fast-casual spot offering healthy salad and bowl options; Otaku Ramen and Black Dynasty, two popular ramen concepts; Red Perch, a seafood spot with global roots; Punk Wok, a rock and roll-themed eatery offering sushi and Asian-inspired small plates.
On the beverage front, Sylvan Supply houses the west side iteration of Woodland Wine Merchant, a beloved East Nashville bottle shop, and Bearded Iris, a local brewery offering an inventive menu of mostly IPAs, DIPs, and pale ales.
If you’re seeking self-care, salon options like Green Pea Salon, Beauty School Salon, and Elà Mar, an aesthetics boutique featuring an array of skincare treatments, are sure to please. On the fitness front, Pure Barre provides low-impact workouts for strength and toning, and Row House offers intense, full-body rowing workouts.
Across the street from Sylvan Supply, you’ll find the West Nashville outposts of two of the city’s staples. Named after the East Nashville neighborhood where it originated, Five Points Pizza is beloved by locals for its NY-style pies, craft beers, and comfortable atmosphere. Be sure to visit during happy hour on weekdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and enjoy deals on pizza and beer, starting at just $5.
Located next door, 8th & Roast offers hot and cold coffee drinks, plus breakfast biscuits and sandwiches served in a bustling atmosphere. Be sure to check out their website for a schedule of classes, with topics ranging from homebrewing to mastering the pour-over, hosted monthly in the shop for coffee newbies and connoisseurs.
Venture further into the neighborhood along Charlotte Avenue, and you’ll come to Hill Center-Sylvan Heights, another development housing a mix of restaurants, bars, and retail spaces. Located in the former Chaatable space, Common Ground is a notable new restaurant and bar, offering a casual spot for lunch, happy hour, dinner, and weekend brunch. The brainchild of a team of locals with backgrounds at some of Nashville’s heavy hitters like Kayne Prime and The Patterson House, Common Ground is rooted in community. It offers an elevated yet approachable menu of regionally inspired cuisine and creative cocktails.
Adjacent to Common Ground is Double Dogs, a beloved sports bar providing a plethora of big screens and a lively atmosphere to catch a game or meet up with friends for a casual beer. Urban Juicer, a favorite local chain, makes healthy living easy with a diverse menu of fresh smoothies, juices, salads, wraps, and more. Finally, for a fun, rainy-day activity, check out Painting With a Twist, where you can sip and socialize while creating your work of art at one of their upcoming events or in a private party setting.
Continue your journey at L&L Market, a one-stop shop for dining, shopping, sipping, and working. Open since 2019, the reclaimed space houses more than 20 businesses, offering a gourmet food hall, exercise studios, locally owned shops, and many creative workspaces. Start your morning at Honest Coffee Roasters, where you’ll find some of the best coffee and latte art in the city, or at Five Daughters, a delightful bakery known for its signature “100 Layer Donuts.”
Next, spend some time shopping at the carefully curated selection of boutiques, including Happily Grey, a style destination from Mary Lawless Lee, the founder of the influential social media account and lifestyle brand bearing the same name; Amelia’s Flowers, the brick-and-mortar site of the Instagram-famous flower truck; designer jewelry store, Judith Bright; Barefoot Cottage, a fashionable home decor shop; This Is The Finale, a trendy, size-inclusive clothing store; and women’s lifestyle store Imago Dei to name a few.
Don’t forget to stock up on souvenirs at nashᵀᴺ and Made in TN. Also located in L&L Market, you’ll find Alchemist, a cozy salon where plants and books abound, and Collective615, a bright coworking space founded by women for women.
Once you’ve “shopped ’til you dropped,” fuel up at one of the many restaurant offerings in L&L Market’s food hall. Culture & Co. is an interactive concept where you can select from a pleasing variety of cheeses, charcuterie, and desserts as they circle on the rotating conveyor belt. Enjoy house-made food items along with a vast selection of natural wines.
You’ll also find plenty of internationally-inspired options, including traditional Italian cuisine at PennePazze, margaritas, and tacos made from fresh, locally-sourced ingredients at Taco Chela, plus delectable Thai cuisine at Thai Ni Yom. To finish, indulge in an over-the-top, decadent ice cream creation from Gracie’s Milkshake Bar.
L&L Market also offers options for those hoping to work up a good sweat. Bend & Zen, a premier hot yoga studio, features weekly hot yoga classes and workshops in a calming and clean environment. If cardio is more your “thing,” you’ll find high-energy, full-body workouts at CycleBar, a popular spin studio. Are you craving a bit more adventure?
Head a few streets over, where you’ll discover Climb Nashville, the city’s go-to destination for indoor rock climbing. Experience an excellent strength training workout — your heart rate will soar as you repel downward from the towering walls. In addition to climbing sessions, the studio also features a variety of yoga and cardio classes. Climb Nashville offers passes and membership options that are perfect for out-of-town visitors and locals.
As with many of Nashville’s neighborhoods, Sylvan Heights seems to grow by the day. We can’t wait to see what’s next for this flourishing corner of Nashville.
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